This school is located in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is an example of typical Christian school projects sponsored by Glad Tidings India and our indigenous partner.

The school is in the largest district in the state of Tamil Nadu with a population of almost 3.5 million. Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (outcasts) account for over 30% of the population.

The literacy rate in this district is approximately 63.5%.

41% of the families in the district live in abject poverty.

Partner Relationship

The ministry associated with this school was established in 1984 by missionary Betty Shelton, who was a good friend for many years with Bill and Dr. Joyce Scott, a co-founder of GTI's indigenous partner and developer of the content of our literacy program.

24 fellowships have been planted by the ministry as a result of church planters trained by GTI's indigenous partner.

In 1994, the local ministry partnered with GTI's indigenous partner to conduct a Village Literacy Rehabilitation Project. Over 8 years, literacy classes were conducted for 2,400 adults in partnership with GTI's indigenous partner who trained the teachers.

The local ministry established an outreach nursery and primary school in 1996 as a result of the demand by literacy graduates who felt their children needed an English Medium
education.

Current Status of the School

The local ministry's nursery and primary school has been operating since 1996. Currently the school has 5 classrooms for grades kindergarten through 5th grade.

There are 10 teachers for the 250 students at the school.

The goal of this project is to build 5 additional classrooms, for grades 6 through 10. When complete the school will be achieve matriculation status.

The five classrooms will make it possible for 125 additional students to receive a quality Christian education at an English Medium school.

Since young girls are often objects of abuse, they will receive priority for admission to the school.

Many of the current and additional students are from the Scheduled Caste population.

Having the school go through 10th grade will enable these Scheduled Caste children to advance beyond primary school level, to develop their full potential, and become self-supporting citizens with dignity.

Qualifications for Receiving Christian School Grants from GTI and our indigenous partner

The school must be operational for at least two years.

The school must be a non-profit registered with the government.

The school must project a five-year expansion program.

The school must provide certified public audits of two previous years of finances.

Only partial grants are made to a school for a project; the remainder is to be provided by the school.

The school must provide complete details and blueprints on the proposed expansion.

The school must provide a five-year plan for the training of grass-roots Church planters and show their locations.

School classroom

School children having lunch

A day at the school

School children in uniforms

The Need for Christian Education in India

Currently 400 million (31%) of India’s population of 1.2 billion people are under the age
of 15. (Operation World, 7th ed., 2010, pp. 409-410.)

Only 15% reach high school and functional literacy is around 30%. (Operation World, 7th ed., 2010, p. 415.

70% of India is under the age of 35.

In the next ten years, India will in all probability add 250 million children under the age
of 10 to its population.

World-wide statistics indicate that 85% of the decisions to know the True Light are made
between the ages of 4-14.

50% of India’s population is functionally illiterate.

Hindus and Muslims in India desire quality schooling for their children and are willing to
pay tuition because of the high quality of the education and the care shown for their
children by Christian Schools.